How can I express my many different sides?
French artist Paul Gauguin attempted, through his art and his writing, to
answer this question. He not only drew and painted self-portraits, but he also
sculpted images of himself in wood, bronze, and ceramic. Altogether he made
more than 40 self-portraits. Throughout his life he also wrote letters that
give clues to his personality and beliefs.
Gauguin was a complicated personsomeone you can only try to know by examining his self-portraits and some of his writing.
Read these excerpts from Gauguins letters. Do they add to your understanding?
![Paul Gauguin, Noa Noa (Fragrant, Fragrant), 1894/1895](img/img_gauguin_noanoa_lg.jpg) |
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Paul Gauguin, Noa
Noa (Fragrant, Fragrant), 1894/1895 |
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![Letter of Paul Gauguin to Vincent van Gogh, 1889](img/img_gauguin_letter.jpg) |
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Letter of Paul Gauguin to
Vincent van Gogh (detail), c. October 20, 1889 |
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